Bell, George

From the K.I.P.A. newsletter #55 Nov 2014

THE BELL PIONEERS

The following is an edited version of a letter written by David Bell to the Kingscote Council in support of renaming Possum Park Road to Bell Manor Road. It gives a snippet of information on the Bell family.

At the age of 27, Preston Thomas Bell together with his wife Mary and their children, George and Alfred came to Kangaroo Island in 1869. Together with his brother in law, Mr Henry Hamilton, he took up about 90 miles of country at Stokes Bay. They travelled to Stokes Bay by bullock dray from Kingscote. It was with determination, grit and courage that they developed their Stokes Bay holdings. On one occasion, their provisions ran out and be-cause of rough and stormy weather, the vessel carrying their years’ supply of provisions could not land and so for six weeks they lived on wallaby meat and boiled wheat.

In 1885, they took up 1,000 acres of thickly covered scrub land in the Wisanger district and there they built a new house they called “Bell Manor”. “Bell Manor” was solidly built of lo-cal limestone. It was with steady labour that the property was cleared and proved well suited for grazing and cropping.

Preston served the community by being one of the first members of council, where he served for 8 years and also filled the position of Chairman for 2 terms. In about 1882, he was sworn in as a special constable. On several occasions, as special constable, he had to perform the mournful task of burying dead bodies from ships wrecked along the Island’s northern shore. In late 1885, he also assisted in the building of the Wisanger school and was one of the founding trustees of the building, then known as the Wisanger Farmers Assembly Hall.

Preston continued living in “Bell Manor” until a stroke confined him to a wheelchair. He then left the farm and lived in Kingscote until the time of his death on 4th April, 1921. Preston & Mary’s fourth son, Benjamin Henry Bell, was 13 years old when his family moved to “Bell Manor” and was one of the first scholars to attend the Wisanger school.

Following the death of his father and mother, Mary, in June, 1924, Benjamin acquired “Bell Manor”, and this he retained until his death in 1936. His son, Garnet, took on the management of his father’s estate, including both the property at Eastwood and “Bell Manor” until such time as the estate was wound up. At that time, the property was divided into two portions, Garnet acquired the section on which the “Bell Manor” homestead was situated and Leslie took the eastern portion which included Crows Gully. Leslie named this property “Springfield” and is retained to this day by his son Michael.


Ed: An interesting piece from the internet

“In 1875, Mrs Hirst’s family in Adelaide had sent her a few comforts, including an angora goat, fresh in milk. Mr Calnan, who bought them to Snug Cove in his whaleboat, also brought news that Mrs P.T. Bell of Stokes Bay had given birth to a son with only her husband’s assistance, and was very ill. He had taken her to Middle River in a bullock wagon so that Mrs Snelling could nurse her. On hearing this, Mrs. Hirst asked Mr Calnan to return to Middle River with the goat and other comforts to help the mother and child – milk and butter being unheard of luxuries in these parts. By her timely gift, Mrs Hunt saved the life of the baby [Charles James Bell born on 17 November 1874.] and probably also the mother.”

Descendants of :

George BELL

For sources and more details, click here

You are also referred to the book: Bell Family 1728 1986

Generation 1

1. George BELL was born 23 Oct 1800 in Stepney, London, England and died 01 Jul 1848 in London, England. He married Mary BARTHOLOMEW.

Children of George BELL and Mary BARTHOLOMEW:
i. 2. Mary Elizabeth BELL was born 23 Jan 1833 in Stepney, London, England and died 19 Jan 1870 in Brighton Plains, SA
ii. 3. Sarah Ann BELL was born 21 Sep 1835 in Stepney, London, England and died 22 Apr 1910 in Adelaide, SA
iii. 4. Preston Thomas BELL was born 01 Mar 1842 in Stepney, London, England and died 04 Apr 1921 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA

Generation 2

2. Mary Elizabeth BELL was born 23 Jan 1833 in Stepney, London, England and died 19 Jan 1870 in Brighton Plains, SA. She married Henry HAMILTON 05 Aug 1851 in St Mary, Sturt, Adelaide, SA. He was born 06 Jan 1826 in Dover, Kent, England and died 10 Feb 1907 in Morphettville, SA, son of Richard HAMILTON and Ann HOLMES.

Other events in the life of Mary Elizabeth BELL
Burial: Brighton North Cemetery, SA

Children of Mary Elizabeth BELL and Henry HAMILTON:
i. Henry HAMILTON was born 27 Apr 1852 in Brighton, SA and died 20 May 1852 in Brighton, SA
ii. Mary HAMILTON was born 03 Aug 1853 in Brighton, SA and died 22 Dec 1853 in Adelaide, SA
iii. 5. George Henry HAMILTON was born 18 Aug 1854 in Sturt, SA and died 06 Jul 1935 in Warradale, SA
iv. 6. Charles HAMILTON was born 28 Aug 1856 in Brighton, SA and died 22 May 1927 in Cleve, SA
v. 7. Frank HAMILTON was born 05 Feb 1859 in Brighton, SA and died 13 Jun 1913 in Morphettville, SA
vi. 8. John Robert HAMILTON was born 25 Jan 1861 in Brighton, SA and died 24 Aug 1926 in Glenelg, SA
vii. 9. Walter Alfred HAMILTON was born 10 Mar 1863 in Glenelg, SA and died 01 Sep 1955 in Tusmore, SA
viii. 10. Jessie HAMILTON was born 12 Oct 1864 in Glenelg, SA
ix. James HAMILTON was born 12 Oct 1866 in Brighton, SA and died 16 Mar 1867 in Brighton, SA
x. 11. Edward HAMILTON was born 07 Sep 1868 and died 07 Aug 1905 in Marion, SA

3. Sarah Ann BELL was born 21 Sep 1835 in Stepney, London, England and died 22 Apr 1910 in Adelaide, SA. She married Thomas Stephen FILMER 02 Sep 1858. He was born 19 May 1824 in London, England and died 01 Jul 1906 in Morphettville, SA, son of Stephen FILMER and Frances LADD.

Other events in the life of Sarah Ann BELL
Immigration: 12 Dec 1850, Sophia Moffatt

Children of Sarah Ann BELL and Thomas Stephen FILMER:
i. Annie Eliza FILMER was born 19 Jul 1859 in nr Brighton, SA and died 26 Oct 1860 in Brighton, SA

4. Preston Thomas BELL was born 01 Mar 1842 in Stepney, London, England and died 04 Apr 1921 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Mary RIGBYE 20 Jul 1865 in Adelaide, SA. She was born 12 Sep 1841 and died 28 Jun 1924 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, daughter of John Thomas RIGBYE and Jane STOPFORTH.

Other events in the life of Preston Thomas BELL
Burial: Kingscote Cemetery, Kangaroo Island, SA
Immigration: 12 Dec 1850, Sophia Moffatt
Property: 1882, Hd Menzies Sect 129, 130; 830 acres

Children of Preston Thomas BELL and Mary RIGBYE:
i. 12. George Preston BELL was born 19 Apr 1866 in Oaklands, Sturt, SA and died 01 Sep 1950 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA
ii. 13. Alfred Douglas BELL was born 04 Mar 1868 in Sturt, SA and died 30 Jan 1944 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA
iii. 14. Walter Edward BELL was born 24 May 1870 in Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 06 Nov 1961 in Cowandilla, SA
iv. 15. Benjamin Henry BELL was born 11 Jul 1872 in Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 16 Sep 1936 in Adelaide, SA
v. 16. Charles James BELL was born 17 Nov 1874 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 03 Feb 1943 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA
vi. 17. Mary Edith BELL was born 30 Jun 1880 in Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Mar 1978 in Victoria, Australia

Generation 3

5. George Henry HAMILTON was born 18 Aug 1854 in Sturt, SA and died 06 Jul 1935 in Warradale, SA. He married Ellen GLOVER 11 Feb 1878 in Glenelg, SA. She was born ABT 1856 and died 22 Apr 1934 in Warradale, SA.

6. Charles HAMILTON was born 28 Aug 1856 in Brighton, SA and died 22 May 1927 in Cleve, SA. He married Emily WARREN 12 Feb 1881 in Sunbury, SA. She was born 05 Dec 1854 in Adelaide, SA and died 15 Jul 1928 in Cleve, SA.

7. Frank HAMILTON was born 05 Feb 1859 in Brighton, SA and died 13 Jun 1913 in Morphettville, SA. He married Ann HAMILTON 18 Jun 1887 in Adelaide, SA. She was born ABT 1848 and died 27 Jun 1892 in Adelaide, SA, daughter of Robert HAMILTON. He married Violet Elsie Mabel AYLIFFE 17 Sep 1895 in St Marys, SA, Australia. She was born 01 Feb 1875 and died 01 Feb 1965 in North Adelaide, SA, daughter of William Hamilton (Henry) AYLIFFE and Ellen Maria POLLITT.

8. John Robert HAMILTON was born 25 Jan 1861 in Brighton, SA and died 24 Aug 1926 in Glenelg, SA. He married Harriet HERRAMAN 07 Dec 1889 in Glenelg, SA. She was born 19 Jan 1868 in Campbelltown, SA and died 20 Aug 1901 in Brighton, SA, daughter of Thomas HERRAMAN. He married Emily ROWNEY 12 Jan 1907 in Payneham, SA. She was born 16 Mar 1876 in Campbelltown, SA and died 03 Dec 1943 in Payneham, SA.

9. Walter Alfred HAMILTON was born 10 Mar 1863 in Glenelg, SA and died 01 Sep 1955 in Tusmore, SA. He married Caroline HAMILTON - m. She was born ABT 1867 and died 01 Mar 1950 in Tusmore, SA.

10. Jessie HAMILTON was born 12 Oct 1864 in Glenelg, SA. She married Henry LOCKTON 07 Oct 1887 in Adelaide, SA. He was born ABT 1864, son of William LOCKTON.

11. Edward HAMILTON was born 07 Sep 1868 and died 07 Aug 1905 in Marion, SA. He married Rosina Harriet HARRIS 02 Aug 1899 in St Mary, Sturt, SA. She was born ABT 1874 and died 16 Dec 1950 in Northfield, SA, daughter of Joseph HARRIS.

12. George Preston BELL was born 19 Apr 1866 in Oaklands, Sturt, SA and died 01 Sep 1950 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Cecilia TAYLOR 04 Nov 1896 in Richmond. SA. She was born 16 Jan 1868 in Port Adelaide, SA and died 15 May 1907 in Wallaroo, SA, daughter of William TAYLOR and Mary MIDDLETON.

Other events in the life of George Preston BELL
Burial: Kingscote Cemetery, Kangaroo Island, SA
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island

13. Alfred Douglas BELL was born 04 Mar 1868 in Sturt, SA and died 30 Jan 1944 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Emma Mary TURNER 30 Aug 1899 in Res George Turner Smiths Bay, K.I., SA. She was born 28 Jun 1879 in Rapid Bay, SA and died 19 Apr 1966 in Hampstead Gardens, SA, daughter of George TURNER and Mary Amelia ROPER.

Other events in the life of Alfred Douglas BELL
Burial: Kingscote Cemetery, Kangaroo Island, SA
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Middle River, Kangaroo Island

14. Walter Edward BELL was born 24 May 1870 in Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 06 Nov 1961 in Cowandilla, SA. He married Eveline May STAPLES 25 Sep 1903 in Victoria, Australia. She was born 09 Nov 1880 in Ashbourne, SA and died 15 Nov 1952, daughter of Robert STAPLES and Elizabeth Ann PAYNE.

15. Benjamin Henry BELL was born 11 Jul 1872 in Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 16 Sep 1936 in Adelaide, SA. He married Eliza TURNER 18 Dec 1901 in Res G Turner Smiths Bay, K.I., SA. She was born 06 Dec 1880 in Talisker, SA and died 18 Feb 1958 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, daughter of George TURNER and Mary Amelia ROPER.

Other events in the life of Benjamin Henry BELL
Burial: Mitcham Cemetery

16. Charles James BELL was born 17 Nov 1874 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 03 Feb 1943 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Grace Elizabeth HENRY 11 Apr 1906 in Res Mr Hirst Snug Cove K.I., SA. She was born 11 Apr 1881 in Port Adelaide, SA and died 11 Apr 1960 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA, daughter of George HENRY and Mary WOOLDRIDGE.

Other events in the life of Charles James BELL
Burial: Kingscote Cemetery, Kangaroo Island, SA
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Lockwood, Kangaroo Island

17. Mary Edith BELL was born 30 Jun 1880 in Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 11 Mar 1978 in Victoria, Australia. She married John Stanley BALCHIN 09 Oct 1907 in Kent Town, SA. He was born 10 Jun 1881 in Balaklava, SA and died 1946 in Rushworth, Victoria, Australia, son of John James BALCHIN.

Last Updated : 2 Aug 2021